Pfizer Canada Inc. and WestJet offer suggestions for a safer and less
stressful travel experience

KIRKLAND, QC and CALGARY, AB, May 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Pfizer Canada Inc.,
makers of EpiPen® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector, and WestJet today announced results of a
survey commissioned to determine the concerns of Canadians at risk of
anaphylaxis who may be travelling this summer.

A total of 666 Canadian adults, who were all prescreened as being at
risk of anaphylaxis,a or as being responsible for a child at risk, were asked about their
allergy concerns when planning a trip.

Forty per cent of respondents expressed that they are not very concerned
or not at all concerned with allergy precaution planning. Sixty per
cent said they are very to somewhat concerned about allergy precaution
planning for future travel.1

According to the survey, respondents at riska said they are "somewhat to very concerned" about taking the following
precautions for future travel:

A total of 53 per cent were concerned about having an epinephrine
auto-injector that is up to date (not expired) and packed for
travelling.2 Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) were concerned about ensuring
allergy medication is up to date (not expired) and packed.3

Among those flying, four in 10 people (43 per cent) said they are
concerned about checking the airline's allergy policy prior to
departure; four in 10 respondents also are concerned about arranging to
have appropriate food on board (42 per cent) or with them on a trip (40
per cent);4

WestJet, in collaboration with Pfizer Canada, has added EpiPenand EpiPen Jr (epinephrine) Auto-Injectors to all medical kits on board
their fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. Epinephrine is the first-line
medication that should be used for the emergency management of a person
having a potentially life-threatening (or severe) allergic reaction.5

"Anaphylaxis can be a serious health concern for Canadians who are not
prepared, particularly when travelling during summer and throughout the
year," said Lorella Garofalo, Director, Medical Affairs at Pfizer
Canada. "Our goal is to raise awareness of the simple steps Canadians
can take to prepare for a safer and less stressful trip when travelling
this summer."

According to Lorne Mackenzie, WestJet's Director of Environment and
Regulatory Affairs: "This survey demonstrates that there are Canadians
at risk of anaphylaxis who take active steps to be prepared while
travelling. At WestJet, we have embraced our culture of care by
stocking EpiPen Auto-Injectors on board our aircraft and providing
detailed information on our website for guests with allergies
travelling on our airline."

Additionally, WestJet and Pfizer offer the following tips to help those
at risk to plan and prepare for holiday travel:

Contact airlines to find out their allergy policy. WestJet's detailed
policy includes aircraft preparedness and recommendations for guests
with allergies.

Check out the buy-on-board items for sale on the aircraft. Airlines'
websites will most often feature the items for sale. All of the items
on board WestJet aircraft are nut free.

If travelling alone, inform a flight attendant of your allergy and where
you keep your epinephrine auto-injector. WestJet's flight crew is happy
to make an announcement to guests seated around you to ensure your
comfort.

While on board, take note of people nearby and what they are eating. If
travellers at risk of severe allergic reactions feel a substance being
eaten by someone nearby might be harmful to them, notify the flight
crew.

Consider choosing a hotel close to a hospital or satellite health
facility. Guests travelling on a WestJet Vacation can find the
addresses of all hotel properties at westjetvacations.com.

Upon arrival at the hotel, note the phone numbers of cabs and emergency
service vehicles and keep this information somewhere where it can
easily be accessed.

Carry an epinephrine auto-injector if you are at risk of anaphylaxis.

The survey also showed that one in 10 respondents (nine per cent) said
they have experienced travel in which an epinephrine auto-injector they
had with them was actually needed and used.6The same number said they have experienced a trip in which they did not
pack an auto-injector but needed one.7

Among the 666 respondents surveyed,8 just two per cent took each of these five key precautions during their
most recent trip: Checking on the airlines allergy policy, packing
their own food when flying, researching their destination for emergency
medical facilities and allergy friendly restaurants, and making sure
their epinephrine auto-injector is up to date. Meanwhile, 31 per cent
said they took none of the above key precautions on their most recent
trip. Another 34 per cent had taken just one precaution, 22 per cent
took two key precautions, and only seven per cent took three
precautions.

About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the
world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Pfizer discovers,
develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines for humans
and animals. At Pfizer, we're working together for a healthier world.
For more information, visit www.pfizer.ca.

Important Safety Information (ISI):
EpiPen (epinephrine) Auto-Injectors are indicated for the emergency
treatment of anaphylactic reactions in patients who are determined by a
physician to be at increased risk of anaphylaxis. EpiPen Auto-Injectors
are designed as emergency supportive therapy only. After
administration, patients should seek medical attention immediately or
go to the emergency room. This product may not be right for you, always
read and follow the label. For details on EpiPen, or educational and
product safety information, please visit www.EpiPen.ca.

About Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that
some people have to foods (like peanuts and shellfish), insect stings
and bites, medicine, or latex. For some people, it is triggered by
exercise. It is a severe allergic reaction that can occur when a
person's immune system strongly reacts to an allergen (an
allergy-causing substance or event). Symptoms may include one or more
of the following: swelling and itching in the mouth and throat, a rash
anywhere on the body, difficulty in swallowing or speaking, difficulty
breathing, or collapse or unconsciousness. According to Health Canada,
food allergies affect as many as 5% to 6% of young children and 3% to
4% of adults in Canada.9 Anaphylaxis Canada estimates that one in two Canadians know someone
with a serious food allergy. Severity of an occurrence is unpredictable
in at-risk patients, and mild allergic symptoms can be followed by a
life-threatening reaction. Epinephrine - also known as adrenaline - is
recognized by healthcare professionals as the treatment of choice for
severe allergic reactions. It is the drug form of a hormone that the
body produces naturally.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service
throughout its 76-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted
into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named
one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in
Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom and leather seats on its
modern fleet of 98 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future
confirmed deliveries for an additional 37 aircraft through 2018,
WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international
airlines in the world.

About the Ipsos Reid Survey
The survey was commissioned by Pfizer Canada and conducted by Ipsos Reid
online between March 2nd and 9th, 2012 among a sample of 666 Canadian adults 18+ years of age who were
all prescreened to ensure that they, or children for whom they were
responding, are considered at risk of severe allergic reaction or
anaphylaxis. The survey defined "anaphylaxis" as a potentially
life-threatening allergic reaction that some people have to foods (like
peanuts and shellfish), insect stings and bites, medicine, latex, or
allergic to or triggered by exercise. It is a severe allergic reaction
that occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen (an allergy-causing
substance). Symptoms include the following: Swelling and itching in the
mouth and throat, a rash anywhere on the body, difficulty in swallowing
or speaking, difficulty breathing, collapse or unconsciousness. A
survey with an unweighted probability sample of 666 Canadian adults and
a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of
±3.8 percentage points 19 times out of 20 of what the results would
have been had the entire population of adults who are at risk of
anaphylaxis been polled. Differences were tested using a 95 per cent
confidence interval. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to
other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error
and measurement error.

IPSOS REID "2012 Anaphylaxis Travel Survey Report, Page 40. "Have you
ever experienced a situation when travelling in which you did take an
epinephrine auto-injector with you and used it during a severe allergic
reaction that you experienced at that time?"

IPSOS REID "2012 Anaphylaxis Travel Survey Report, Page 40. "Have you
ever experienced a situation when travelling in which you did not take
an epinephrine auto-injector with you but needed it due to a severe
allergic reaction that you experienced at that time?"